DAVAO ORIENTAL – The national government, through the Department of the Interior and Local Government has drummed up the urgent call for a constitutional reform amidst the changing times since the adoption and implementation of the 1987 constitution.

This was made evident as discussions flowed during the two-days Balangayan Forum on November 7-8, 2019.

“The people have to understand that we have to do reforms to our Constitution. This is in pursuance to the policy agenda of President Rodrigo Duterte. Our  constitution has  to be abreast with the changing times, we have to make moves as time does, so we can move ahead and be competitive,” Dr. Adrian Tamayo, member of the Inter-Agency Task Force explained, as he talked about the constitutional reform and decentralization of the policy agenda of the President.

Tamayo emphasized that through the reform, economy is expected to be more vibrant, with more doors of opportunities to be opened.

The President of the Provincial Association of Barangay Captains Rustan Castillones strongly agreed that “we have to implement the reform now, and it will be a very needed quantum leap for the future of the country.”

“There is a need for change, and we have to start the change now. We have to understand that the 1987 constitution was patterned after the 1935 constitution, which was also patterned after the 1905 constitution. So, the longevity says it all why,” he added.

The barangay federations are prepared once the reform is implemented.

“We propose a longer term for the barangay officials. Three years is not enough to get things done. So, we propose a six-year term which a barangay official can avail twice. I think this is enough,” he furthered.

Board Member Larry Taya also wanted to ascertain if there is enough time left for the constitutional reform, considering that the current administration only has barely three more years left. Taragona Councilor Samuel Uy reiterated that with the move for constitutional reform, the government also have to look into the persons who will work on the reform.

DILG Assistant Regional Director Abdullah Matalam appealed to the local government officials to help in the information dissemination on the constitutional reform.

“Let us help the President on this. Since day one, he has already been advocating for federalism. We have to do this for our country,” he said.

The two-day Balangayan started at the Davao Oriental State College of Science and Technology (DOSCST) for the barangay officials and the youth.

On the second day, Matalam and Tamayo led the morning media briefing at Tita Venus Restaurant, where friends from the media had their time asking questions on constitutional reform and other related matters.

In the afternoon, a town hall meeting was held at the Honey’s Hotel and Restaurant for the local government officials.

Also attending the town hall meeting were Vice Governor Niño Uy, Provincial Administrator Art Benjie Bulaong, municipal mayors, vice-mayors, and Sangguniang Panlalawiganmembers.

Local officials of Davao Oriental say they welcome change – change that can be an avenue to address more efficiently the needs of the people guided by the Whole of Nation Approach. By Neela G. Duallo/Photos Courtesy of DILG-Davao Oriental